Environment officials are sharing the annual reminder to look out for bears as nature lovers head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather.
At this time of the year, officials note that bears are on the move looking for food.
Black bears are found throughout Saskatchewan and are commonly seen in northern Saskatchewan forests. Their range extends southward into the aspen parkland and into other areas including the Touchwood Hills, the Qu’Appelle Valley and the South Saskatchewan River Valley, add Environment officers.
Authorities are sharing the following tips for bear-proofing your yard:
- Store garbage in a secure building or buy a bear-resistant container
- Put your garbage bin out on the morning of collection
- Wash all recycling items and regularly clean garbage or recycling bins
- Ensure pet food is stored where it is not accessible to wildlife
- Only use bird feeders in the winter while bears hibernate
- Do not add fish, meat, fat, oils, unrinsed eggshells or any cooked food to compost bins
- Properly clean and store barbecue grills after each use
Also, bears become a nuisance and a threat when they associate humans with their food source. Some items that can attract bears include pet food, household waste and overloaded compost bins. Removing these and other attractants will reduce the chance of an unwanted visitor to your yard.
Provincial regulations prohibit the feeding of bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes. This regulation does not apply to landfills or hunters and trappers operating under a licence.
If a bear (or other wildlife) is posing an imminent risk to human safety, call 911. To report an encounter with aggressive wildlife, call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561. To report concerns about nuisance wildlife, including bears, call the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-567-4224 or email [email protected].
More information may be found on the ministry’s website.